Solar System Quiz

Solar System Mini Quiz

Answer each question individually or all on the same page.

What is the closest planet to the Sun?
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
There are 8 recognised planets in the Solar System. How many of them are Gas Giants?
1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
What planet has the highest mountain in the Solar System?
1. Venus
2. Earth
3. Mars
What is the hottest terrestrial planet?
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
Why can we see surface details on Mars and Mercury but not on Venus?
1. Venus is covered by too many clouds to see any features
2. Venus is too far away to see any features
3. Venus is too near the Sun to see any features
What planet could float in water because of its low density?
1. Earth
2. Jupiter
3. Saturn
True or False? Only Saturn and Uranus have rings around them.
1. True
2. False
What planet orbits the Sun on its side?
1. Saturn
2. Uranus
3. Neptune
What is the furthest Gas Giant from the Sun?
1. Uranus
2. Neptune
3. Pluto
Which of these a classification of a dwarf planet..?
1. Is in orbit around the Sun
2. Is not a satellite
3. Has hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical /consistent shape)
4. Has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit
5. Has an atmosphere
What are planetary rings?
1. Saturn’s internal structure
2. A circle of light around a planet
3. Thousands of rock and ice particles in close orbit around a planet
Comets have two tails. One is a dust tail comprises of particles from its surface. What is the other tail called..?
1. Ion
2. Stream
3. Double tail
Which of these is NOT usually characteristic of a comet’s orbit?
1. Retrograde orbit
2. Eccentric to ecliptic
3. Circular orbit
The asteroid belt is between..?
1. Mercury and Venus
2. Mars and Jupiter
3. Hoth and Besbin
The area that meteor showers originate from in the sky is called the..?
1. Ecliptic
2. Zenith
3. Radiant
Meteor Showers occur because..?
1. An object hits the atmosphere
2. Fireballs hit Earth
3. The Earth moves into a point on its orbit where debris has been left
How do spacecraft travel safely through the asteroid belt?
1. All asteroid orbits are carefully plotted
2. The belt is not densely packed with asteroids
3. They have shields on them like the Millennium Falcon in the Empire Strikes back
What is the object that falls into Earth's atmosphere leaving a lit trail behind it?
1. Meteor
2. Meteoroid
3. Meteorite
Long term comets are thought to originate in what area of the solar system?
1. Asteroid Belt
2. Kuiper Belt
3. Oort Cloud
Short term comets are thought to originate in what area of the solar system?
1. Asteroid Belt
2. Kuiper Belt
3. Oort Cloud
The nucleus of a comet is surrounded by..?
1. A Tail
2. A Coma
3. A Full Stop
Meteorites are made of..?
1. Rock or Iron
2. Ice or Rock
3. Cheese or Onion